Projector for simulated basket ball games



1953 w. J. ELLIOTT, SR

PROJECTOR FOR SIMULATED BASKET BALL GAMES Filed Oct. 15, 1951 lllllll' 1N VEN TOR.

ATTOR N EY Patented Nov. 10, 1953 PROJECTOR FOR SIMULATED BASKET BALL GAMES William J. Elliott, S12, Baltimore, Md., assignor of fifty per cent to Ernest L. McNeely, Baltimore, Md.

Application October 15, 1951, Serial No. 251,347

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to game apparatus and more particularly to those pertaining to basket ball in the form of a toy or miniature table game operated by hand and requiring the use of skill and judgement on the part of the player, and providin amusement, entertainment and excitement, to the player and outside observers.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a new and improved basket ball game that will avoid one or more of the disadvantages and limitations of the devices of this nature heretofore known.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved basket ball game, that will enable the ball played with to register for the score and be returned to a convenient location for reuse of the player, and to prevent it being lost or otherwise inconveniently placed on making a goal.

A further object of the invention is to provide for the adjustment of the components used in playing the game, so they can be adjusted to suit the judgement and requirements of the game.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved miniature basket ball game for table use that will be designed and constructed for quick and facile dismantling and packing when the game is out of use or made ready for transporting.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent as it is described more in detail.

In order to provide an explicit outline of the invention and render its general principles and mode of operation understood, reference is made to the accompanying drawings. when used in conjunction with the following specification illustrate a particular form of the game by way of example, not of limitation, while the claims indicate the scope of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a plan view of a basket ball game toy embodying this invention, with the ball shown in the return tube;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of Figure 1, with ball shown in the catapult saddle;

Figure 3 is a perspective detail of the catapult column on the rotating platform, parts being broken away to indicate the manner in which the footing slides on the platform;

Figure 4 is a detail in perspective of the return tube used. in this embodiment;

Figure 5 is a detail in perspective of the post for holding the basket ball cage, and

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic outline of the indicator and signal used in this embodiment.

These drawings The same reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the drawings.

In the drawings, a basket ball game structure employs a flat rectangular base it, on which is mounted a rectangular socket H near one end. A post 52 of rectangular cross-section is made with its lower end portion arranged to fit into the socket H and stand rigidly at right angles to the base. A back board 44 of rectangular contour is firmly attached to the front of the post l2 adjacent its upper end and facing the base along its longitudinal axis. The face and central portion of the board has a basket ball cage frame [3 of circular form projected horizontally from it, with an open string net It extended down from it. This frame and net serve as the goal for the basket ball 5 5 to fall through in the conventional manner. The post l2 may be readily lifted out of the socket l I and then the post, with the back board i l and frame it complete with net removed as a unit. In this form the unit can be compactly packed away. A return tube 3!] is attached to the post l2 under the cage it to return the ball.

The opposite end of the base It has a large disc-like platform It revolvably rested upon its upper horizontal surface and adapted to rotate 360 or more in either direction. On its upper surface I? a pair of inverted L-shaped elements 88 are located opposite each other and serve to provide slots it through which to slide the flat horizontal footing 2c of a catapult having a rectangular vertical column 2! on which a pair of arms 22 are pivoted. These arms 22 are rigidly attached to an axle 23 which passes through the column and rotates with them. An exposed rubher band 26 or other similar arrangement provides a resilient tension to the arms so they are brought forcibly against a limit pin 25. The arms 22 support a circular and open saddle 26 suitably bevelled in which the ball is may be rested before being propelled in the direction of the cage frame it. A handle 2i extends from the saddle to permit its manipulation by the player. The saddle is stiffiy held by the arms 22 when tightened and provides for adjustment or tilting of the saddle to various planes for holding the ball and projecting the latter. The adjustment may be controlled by a set screw 28 used for tightening the axle 29 of the saddle in the arms 22.

It will be noted that the components of the games consist of the catapult which throws the ball 55, the cage post unit, and the base. The return tube 3t has a funnel it with an elbow 32 close to the base, and winds up in a pan 33, where the ball is caught and made ready for the player to use again. A clamp 34 holds this tube and permits its easy removal from the post I2. In the general operation of the device, the trajectory of the ball is towards the cage from the catapult when the player snaps the latter.

The post also supports an electric switch 35 mounted on the post and in line with the cage I3 so the ball l5 will actuate it to light a lamp 36 when it makes a goal, and rotates an indicator 31 that shows the number of goals made.

The post unit is readily dismantled as previously noted. Likewise the tube may be taken off the post. The catapult unit is also removable and can be compacted with the other components. The catapult is adjustable longitudinally in the L elements l8 in the direction of the cage, and with the incidental adjustment of the saddle permits a number of positions to be attained for the user to put the device in before shooting the ball towards the cage. The pin 39 passing through the base l0, and the disc l6 enables the latter to revolve freely thereon in a horizontal plane.

While but one form of the invention is shown in the application, it is not desired to limit the scope of the invention to such as it is appreciated that other forms could be designed and made that would use the same principles and come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a game apparatus, a stationary base, a circular platform, means for revolvably mounting said platform on the base, a pair of slotted elements carried by said platform at diametrically opposite points thereof, a catapult column. having a footing fitting within the slots of the aforesaid elements, a pair of parallel arms pivoted to said column, a limit pin carried by the column above the pivot point of the arms on the column, flexible yielding means for normally biasing said arms against the pin, a saddle stifily held by and between the arms at their free end, said saddle receiving a free ball, and a manually operated handle carried by the saddle whereby to rotate the arms about their pivot on the column against the resistance of the flexible yielding means and away from the pin, said handle being then released to allow the flexible yielding means to pull the arms and saddle towards the column and project the ball out of the saddle, said arms being stopped at the end of their trajectory by contact with the aforesaid limit pin.

2. A game apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including means to adjust the position of the saddle on the arms.

3. A game apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the means for revolvably mounting the platform on the base consists of a pin vertically extending through said platform and base.

WILLIAM J. ELLIOTT, SR.

ReferencesCited in the file of this patent UNITEDSTATES PATENTS Number Name Date 216,590 Wright June 17, 1879 1,030,558 Wood June 25, 1912 1,162,140 Cusick Nov. 30, 1915 1,481,105 Levy Jan. 15, 1924 1,508,147 Vinal Sept. 9, 1924 1,620,399 Smith Mar. 8, 1927 1,675,543 Forry July 3, 1928 1,785,876 Pilates Dec. 23, 1930 1,912,360 Blanchard June 6, 1933 1,927,067 Manassero Sept. 19, 1933 2,114,777 Englerth Apr. 19, 1938 2,192,096 Minger Feb. 27, 1940 2,287,266 Ostrander June 23, 1942 2,325,858 Kellerman Aug. 3, 1943 2,431,952 Chervenka Jan. 7, 1947 2,455,422 Kucks Dec. 7, 1948 2,473,091 Brooks June 14, 1949 

